The Europe CruiseFor the American voyager

Your voyage begins in Avignon

From the airport to the gangway, every way there and back.

Photo: Rolf Kranz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

Avignon is a Rhône cruise stop and sometimes the start or end. Ships dock below the city walls on Boulevard de l'Oulle, near the famous broken bridge. There is no big airport; most people arrive by TGV at Avignon TGV station, about 6 km outside the centre, then take the short TER train to Avignon Centre.

I · Arrive by airMRSMarseille Provence (nearest large airport)
II · Airport to shipNot confirmed. Avignon Tourism says Marseille is about 1 hour away by road; Marseille Provence Airport is about 27 km from Marseille centre (Marseille Tourism).
III · Ways to travel2compared below
IV · BoardAvignonriver dock
The timetable

Every way from the airport to the ship

Tap any way for step-by-step directions.

The wayFromTimeCost
Cruise line transfer or pre-booked carMRSnot confirmednot confirmed
Shuttle bus to Vitrolles-Aéroport station, then TER train to Avignon CentreMRSnot confirmednot confirmed
On the chart

Where Avignon lies

Antique-style chart of River Voyages with ports markedAvignonAmsterdamBarcelonaBaselBudapestRomeDoverGenoaIJmuidenLyonMarseilleNurembergParisPassauPortoRavennaRegensburgRotterdamSavonaSouthamptonTriesteVeniceViennaA CoruñaAjaccioAmalfi and PositanoBariBastiaBilbaoCannesCherbourgCobhDublinDubrovnikFalmouthGuernseyHolyheadHonfleurHvarKoperKorčulaKotorLa SpeziaLe HavreLivornoMonacoNaplesOlbiaPortlandPortoferraioPortofino / Santa Margherita LigurePulaRovinjSaint-MaloSaint-TropezSalernoSèteŠibenikSorrentoSplitTarragonaToulonVigoVillefranche-sur-Mer and NiceWaterfordZadarZeebrugge
Step by step

From Marseille Provence (nearest large airport) (MRS)

Not confirmed. Avignon Tourism says Marseille is about 1 hour away by road; Marseille Provence Airport is about 27 km from Marseille centre (Marseille Tourism).

Cruise line transfer or pre-booked car

Time not confirmedCost not confirmed
  1. Book with your line or a car company.

Simplest with bags. No official price found.

Shuttle bus to Vitrolles-Aéroport station, then TER train to Avignon Centre

Time not confirmedCost not confirmed
  1. Take the shuttle bus from the airport to Vitrolles-Aéroport station (about 5 minutes per Marseille Tourism).
  2. TER train to Avignon Centre.
  3. Walk or taxi to Boulevard de l'Oulle.

Route given by Avignon Tourism; no time or fare published for the Avignon leg.

Already in town

From the city or your hotel

TGV to Avignon TGV, then TER train to Avignon Centre (or bus/taxi)

Time TER Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre takes 'just a few minutes' (Avignon Tourism); TGV time from Paris/Lyon not confirmedCost not confirmed

Avignon Tourism: TER on the Avignon TGV-Carpentras line to Gare Centre; TGV station is about 6 km from the centre. SNCF/OUIGO lists the shuttle route and TCRA buses 10, 14, 21; no fares published on pages that loaded.

Taxi from Avignon TGV

Time Not verifiedCost not confirmed

SNCF's 'Mon Chauffeur' service can book a fixed-fare car; no price shown.

The night before

Where to stay

Arrive a day or two early. A delayed flight on sailing day is the most common way travelers miss the ship.

Inside the old city walls

Walk to the Boulevard de l'Oulle docks.

All aboard

Sailing day

Terminals & docks

Viking lists Boulevard de l'Oulle, 84000 Avignon, along the Rhône outside the city walls. Your line sends the exact dock.

Check-in

  • River ships usually start boarding in the afternoon. AmaWaterways says boarding usually begins around 3:00 p.m., and you can drop bags earlier.
  • Uniworld says to confirm your boarding address and boarding time 24 hours before you arrive.
  • River docks can change at short notice. Confirm the dock address with your line the day before.

What trips people up

  • Avignon TGV station is outside the city. You need the shuttle, a bus or a taxi.
  • No major airport nearby.

Do this

  • Take the train from Paris or Lyon rather than a domestic flight.
Homeward bound

Leaving the ship: back to the airport

The same routes run in reverse. On the last morning everyone leaves at once, so lines for taxis and buses are at their longest. Book flights home for the afternoon or later, and arrange your ride in advance if you can.

The wayToTimeCost
Cruise line transfer or pre-booked carMRSnot confirmednot confirmed
Shuttle bus to Vitrolles-Aéroport station, then TER train to Avignon CentreMRSnot confirmednot confirmed

Before you leave

  • Avignon TGV station is outside the city. You need the shuttle, a bus or a taxi.
  • No major airport nearby.
  • Take the train from Paris or Lyon rather than a domestic flight.
Linger a while

Before or after your cruise

Sources & what we could not confirm · 4 sources · checked 2026-11
Still being confirmed
  • TER fare Avignon TGV-Centre and frequency.
  • Marseille airport to Avignon time and fare.
  • Taxi fares.
  • US nonstop flights: not verified for this page; check airline sites